Fullerenes and their derivatives have many uses, a couple of the most promising are outlined below.

The fact that they absorb light and can give out that energy to neighbouring molecules could be useful in treating cancer. If C60 is in the bloodstream around a tumor and a light is shone on that tumor, toxic excited 02 will be formed and will attack the cancer in that localised area. There is currently much effort being put into perfecting this.

When group one or two elements are placed between C60 molecules, the total absence of electrical resistance means that a current will follow indefinitely and there is no loss of power. If this was used in power cables it would eliminate power loss and thus save huge amounts of money. Unfortunately it can only carry small currents and work at expensively low temperatures. The most important discovery to be made in this area will be how to get these to conduct at higher or even ambient temperatures and carry larger currents.